Perrysville, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Perrysville, Indiana
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Jackson Street in Perrysville
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Location of Perrysville in Vermillion County, Indiana.
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Map of Perrysville
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Vermillion |
| Township | Highland |
| Founded | 1825 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.26 sq mi (0.67 km2) |
| • Land | 0.26 sq mi (0.67 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 538 ft (164 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 456 |
| • Density | 1,774.32/sq mi (684.77/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
47974
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| Area code(s) | 765 |
| FIPS code | 18-59238 |
| GNIS feature ID | 441034 |
| Website | http://perrysville.in/ |
Perrysville is a small town located in Highland Township, Vermillion County, in the state of Indiana, United States. In 2010, the town had a population of 456 people.
Contents
History of Perrysville
Perrysville was officially started in 1825. A man named James Blair planned and measured out the town. It was built on a high piece of land, called a bluff, next to the Wabash River. The town got its name from Oliver Hazard Perry, a famous naval officer. He was known as a Commodore and was a hero of the Battle of Lake Erie.
Early Transportation and Trade
In its early days, Perrysville was a busy center for shipping goods. Products were sent on flatboats down the Wabash, Ohio, and Mississippi Rivers all the way to New Orleans. Heavy equipment and manufactured items could also arrive in Perrysville by steamboats.
Before railroads became common, Perrysville was a very successful town because of its river location. It was even thought to be the largest town between Chicago and Terre Haute at its busiest time.
The Canal and Roads
The Wabash and Erie Canal made Perrysville even more important. This canal allowed boats to be pulled across the river right to the town. Many roads also met in Perrysville. One important road was a toll road made of planks that went from Danville, Illinois. Stagecoaches, which were like early buses, often traveled through the town.
The Arrival of Railroads
However, when railroads started to be built, they did not pass through Perrysville. This meant that river traffic slowly became less important. The town of Perrysville then lost its central role in trade and travel.
The Perrysville post office has been open since 1827, serving the community for a very long time.
Geography of Perrysville
Perrysville is located in the northeastern part of Vermillion County. It sits on the western banks of the Wabash River. Indiana State Road 32 is a main road that goes through the town.
According to information from 2010, Perrysville covers a total area of about 0.26 square miles (0.67 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Population of Perrysville
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 742 | — | |
| 1860 | 721 | −2.8% | |
| 1870 | 690 | −4.3% | |
| 1880 | 645 | −6.5% | |
| 1890 | 507 | −21.4% | |
| 1930 | 435 | — | |
| 1940 | 451 | 3.7% | |
| 1950 | 462 | 2.4% | |
| 1960 | 497 | 7.6% | |
| 1970 | 510 | 2.6% | |
| 1980 | 532 | 4.3% | |
| 1990 | 443 | −16.7% | |
| 2000 | 502 | 13.3% | |
| 2010 | 456 | −9.2% | |
| 2020 | 456 | 0.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2010 Census Information
A census is an official count of a population. The 2010 census showed that 456 people lived in Perrysville. These people lived in 184 households, and 127 of these were families.
The town had about 1,754 people per square mile (685 people per square kilometer). Most of the people living in Perrysville were White (98.2%). A small number were African American (0.4%), Asian (0.2%), or from two or more races (1.1%). About 0.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Households and Age
Out of the 184 households, about 32% had children under 18 living there. More than half (52.7%) were married couples living together. Some households (13%) had a female head with no husband, and a few (3.3%) had a male head with no wife. About 28% of households were individuals living alone. About 12.5% of households had someone aged 65 or older living by themselves.
The average household had 2.48 people, and the average family had 3.00 people. The median age in Perrysville was 40.2 years old. This means half the people were younger than 40.2 and half were older. About 25% of residents were under 18. About 16.4% were 65 years old or older. The town had slightly more females (54.4%) than males (45.6%).
Notable People from Perrysville
- Luella F. McWhirter (1859–1952) was born in Perrysville. She was known for her work as a philanthropist, which means she gave money and time to help others. She was also a clubwoman and a leader in the temperance movement, which worked to reduce alcohol use.
See also
In Spanish: Perrysville (Indiana) para niños
